If you’re thinking of getting a cosmetic procedure in the United States, there’s little doubt that Miami plastic surgery would immediately come to mind. After all, Miami is the home of hundreds of plastic surgery clinics – the likes of which you can’t find in any other place in the USA.
But while Miami medical tourism is thriving with over 400,000 patients visiting every year, you still have to be vigilant when choosing a plastic surgeon or plastic surgery clinic. You need to know the right questions to ask every plastic surgeon, as well as the red flags that you need to watch out for.
Aside from those things, it will also benefit you to learn some of the laws governing Miami plastic surgery. Knowing those regulations will help you avoid problems that other patients faced in the past.
Here are four things you need to remember about Miami plastic surgery:
The only requirement for a Miami plastic surgeon is a medical license.
Just because a plastic surgeon has a popular clinic does not mean he is already reliable.
Opening a plastic surgery clinic in Miami is extremely easy for any physician, as the only requirement is a personal medical license. That means that even a gynecologist or an allergist – doctors who have no background in plastic surgery whatsoever – can open a plastic surgery clinic in Miami.
As a licensed physician, they can operate a cosmetic surgery practice in Miami even without a plastic surgery board certification.
And if you’re thinking of just getting your surgery from an accredited plastic surgery clinic, think again. Florida – as well as many other states in the country – does not require licensing or accreditation of medical offices. It is up to the plastic surgeon if he wants to submit his clinic to accreditation by a recognized medical board.
But to be fair, inspections are non-negotiables in Florida. If a surgeon does not want to submit to accreditation, then the local Department of Health will inspect the clinic to ensure patient safety.
Physicians are not even required to have a malpractice insurance.
A medical malpractice insurance covers a healthcare professional – like a plastic surgeon – from any errors arising from his or her practice.
Such a thing is important for plastic surgeons since their reputation relies so much on how happy or satisfied their patients were after their procedures. Even if a surgeon performs the best tummy tuck operation, if it does not satisfy the patient, then it does not fulfill its cosmetic goals.
But though a medical malpractice insurance might only be beneficial to plastic surgeons at first glance, it can also affect patients who are suing their plastic surgeons for botched surgeries.
If you sue a plastic surgeon without a medical malpractice insurance, he might end up unable to pay you even if you win the settlement because he’s broke.
If you want to protect yourself against malpractice, the best thing to do is to find a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon. You may also want to ask him about his malpractice insurance for added protection.
It’s not easy to close an unreliable plastic surgery clinic.
In 2016, a couple of Miami plastic surgery clinics made headlines after two patients died on separate occasions. One developed complications after a Brazilian butt lift, while the other died while undergoing a tummy tuck.
In addition to those things, these clinics also had a long history of botched and fatal surgeries over the years. It even has hundreds of pending complaints regarding unrefunded deposits from patients who changed their minds about getting plastic surgery.
Despite these issues, the clinics were never closed down permanently. To salvage their reputation, they instead rebranded and reopened under a different name. Until now, these clinics are still operational.
How can that be possible? The Florida Board of Medicine can only close down a plastic surgery clinic if it is fully physician-owned. Otherwise, even in the event of death, the board has no power to restrict operations or close down a plastic surgery clinic.
The rules and regulations might seem unfair, but that is the reason why diligent research is important when choosing a plastic surgeon.
The staff is not always healthcare-competent.
Aside from the fact that not all plastic surgeons with clinics are board-certified in plastic surgery, there is also no standard requirements or training for clinic staff.
Remember that having a plastic surgery clinic is a business, so plastic surgeons are likely to hire staff that is good at marketing and customer service rather than healthcare. Unlike hospitals, you can’t expect a clinic to have its own nurse, anesthesiologist, medical interns, and other medical staff.
Though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, keep in mind that these people are not qualified to give medical advice. They are just there to assist you and answer some practical concerns like surgery cost and location, but take their medical tips with a grain of salt.
Only schedule a consultation with a board-certified and reputable plastic surgeon who can answer all your plastic surgery concerns.
Online rave reviews don’t necessarily translate to excellent service.
Though online reviews for plastic surgeons found on Real Self and other similar platforms are helpful in evaluating your plastic surgeon’s capabilities, that should not be your sole barometer in choosing a prospective plastic surgeon.
Even if surgeon feedback is found in legitimate websites, there is no body regulating these online reviews. There were prior instances of competitors planting negative reviews to mar a certain surgeon’s reputation. On the other hand, it is also possible for a plastic surgeon to manufacture a bogus positive review just to prop up his business.
Hence, it is better to rely on word of mouth recommendations from friends and families. Also, focus on the plastic surgeon’s credentials – such as his board certification – to ensure that you are selecting the right surgeon for your plastic surgery needs.
Looking for a Miami plastic surgeon? Schedule a Free Consultation with one of Face + Body Cosmetic Surgery’s experienced and double board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss your cosmetic surgery concerns.
Reference:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article78858297.html
